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US

President Donald Trump can expect a warm welcome from the sumo wrestling

community when he presents a custom-made “Trump Award” to the winner of the

Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on May 26.
However, with Trump expected to view the bouts from a

chair instead of sitting cross-legged on a cushion as ringside viewers

typically do, some fans have been left upset at his special treatment.
Trump is expected to watch the final three

bouts on the last day of the tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan venue

alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his May 25-28 state visit.

Their wives, Melania Trump and Akie Abe, are also expected to attend.
He will present the trophy to the winning

wrestler following other awards, the Japanese Sumo Association (JSA) said.
“I’ve always found that fascinating,” Trump

said of sumo at a news conference in April.
Some members of the sumo community welcomed

the increased exposure that Trump’s visit will give their sport.
“Sumo is Japanese traditional culture. It is

not just about winning and defeat. So, it is good that the president is

involved and will present a trophy,” said Kazuo Saito, a sumo coach at Nippon

Sports Science University.
Saito also doesn’t think the U.S. leader’s

presence will affect the wrestlers’ performance.
“I believe that they will compete at their best,” he

said.
Trump, 72, will sit in a chair, instead of on

a “zabuton” cushion on the floor as is customary.
That has upset some sumo fans.
Masaru Tomamoto, 73, said he sympathized with

Trump but nonetheless would prefer the U.S. leader to follow custom.
“I also want to sit on chair as we watch sumo

wrestling,” admitted Tomamoto over a steaming bowl of chanko nabe, the stew

favored by sumo wrestlers.
“But if (Trump) watches a Japanese traditional

sport, sumo, I think that it would be much better for him to sit cross-legged

with the cushion on the floor, rather than on chair.”
Izumi Chiba from Sapporo in northern Japan

echoed the sentiment: “As we say, when you are in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Trump will have to climb onto the ‘dohyo’ – or

sumo ring – to present the award alongside Abe. Shoes are typically not worn on

the dohyo so he may have to wear slippers or shoe covers.
Almost one-eighth of the 11,000 seats have

been reserved for Trump, Abe and their security teams. Ordinary attendees will

have to go through security checks, media reported.
Trump will not be the first foreign dignitary

to present a trophy to a sumo tournament winner.
Former French President Jacques Chirac, who was known as

a big sumo fan, created the President of the Republic of France Cup and

presented the trophy to the winning wrestler in 2000. It was presented every

year until Chirac left office in 2007.